WATCH: Saquon Barkley takes opening kickoff back for TD against Ohio State

Bill Bender

WATCH: Saquon Barkley takes opening kickoff back for TD against Ohio State image

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Penn State's Saquon Barkley opened the showdown with No. 2 Ohio State in style.

Barkley returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to give the Nittany Lions a 7-0 lead in the huge Big Ten East showdown.

MORE: Penn State-Ohio State live blog

Barkley made an opening statement for the second straight week. He had a 69-yard touchdown run against Michigan on the second play from scrimmage in a 42-13 victory last week. 

It's yet another Heisman Trophy statement for Barkley.

Bill Bender

Bill Bender Photo

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.